After recently publishing the 2023-24 Annual Report and Accounts it is always a concern as to whether you can continue the success of the previous year in the next one. I am pleased to say that since the start of the new financial year in April The Butterfly Tree continues to flourish in all sectors.
As always we have launched a Christmas Appeal to raise money to buy bags of ground maize for orphans and vulnerable families. As Zambia is heading into the rainy season mosquito nets are needed to protect children against malaria. 100% of all donations for the appeal will be used for these two projects, nothing will be deducted for administration or personal fees.
A 25kg bags of ground maize costs £10 and can feed a family of four for one month. A mosquito net costs £5 and could save a child’s life. If you would care to offer a donation the payment options can be find by clicking on this link.
We continue to distribute 25 kg bags of ground maize throughout the Kazungula District to help people who are suffering from the severe drought. Thanks to substantial donations from the Murphy Family Foundation, Nick Bousliman and many individuals we have provided food for thousands of people suffering from hunger in remote areas of Nyawa, Mukuni, Musokotwane, Sekute and Moomba Chiefdom.
In addition, we donated bags of seeds and fertilizer to dozens of families and women’s groups who have no funds to grow vegetables and crops, another challenge caused by the drought. This will provide food security for thousands of people.
After contacting Khalsa Aid, a UK charity that we had worked with during the 2019 drought, the organisation kindly agreed to partner with us to provide extra support for Nyawa and Moomba, the two most remote Chiefdom. With the help of our local volunteers Khalsa Aid kindly donated a further 1,000 bags of ground maize and took part in the distribution in Nyawa.
Water shortages have reached an all-time low with rivers, streams and even boreholes becoming dry. This year we installed a record number of boreholes in schools and communities, 30 in total. After visiting a site in October where young people were climbing down into a well to draw water, we drilled a borehole last month. The people of Mukumba and neighbouring villages now have access to free clean water and will no longer need to drink polluted water.
The Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission funded food security and safe water projects for women in Zalu, Sekute Central, Zwanga and Kanchele are progressing well. Other food security projects in Siambelele, Senkobo, Musokotwane and Mukuni are successfully producing vegetables. Women have readily available food for their families and profit from the sale of vegetables to educate their children.
The Youth Empowerment project for young people with physical and mental health challenges is finally making strides after delays caused by the drought. Thanks to a donation from our Canadian partners, Give a Hand, three groups of young people with varying forms of disabilities are running a chicken rearing project at Mukuni, and goat rearing projects at Kamwi and Ngandu. Some of the participants are receiving professional training in business management with the aim of making this a sustainable income-generating enterprise.
The new school at Bbombe Lyangoma complete with a 1×2 classroom block, teachers house and toilets will be in operation for the new school year in January as will the new secondary school at Nguba. We have funding in place to construct two more schools and will be adding Kalomo District to the areas we support.
We are excited to introduce an invaluable new project to improve the special and inclusive education system in the Kazungula District thanks to further support from Give a Hand. This has already started and includes training teachers, community sensitization, the production of a training manual, and the provision of equipment and materials to aid pupils with special needs.
We are forever grateful for the overwhelming support we receive from long-term donors and all the new ones who have made contributions to our cause. We sincerely thank you and all our volunteers both in the UK and Zambia who are committed to helping improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable communities, most especially through the period of drought. The good news is the rains are coming….
Wishing you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and good health in the New Year.
Jane Kaye-Bailey
Founder
